Different Jem's = Different Neck profiles? - a question rega

[jem7vwh]

I've only played 3 JEM's in person.
1. *My JEM7VWH, which I bought because of the neck. *It feels like a Wizard neck to me, but smoother finishing and wider string spacing. *Like a flattened out D shape.

2. a JEM90HAM in the store that felt very similar, but less flat on the back

3. a JEM7DBK which felt much like the 90HAM.

so here's my question-if the specs for the JEM neck haven't changed over the years, what's changing?

My guess is that the profile of the neck has slimmed down. *The originals were like a D shape. *The Jem7VWH feels like an even flatter D shape, and the new ones seem even more flat but also more rounded, like a wizard...am I correct?

(Edited by jem7vwh at 4:03 pm on Jan. 30, 2001)

[jemsite]

Bingo. The new JEM necks have a slimmed down profile from the original 777 necks. They are less D shaped now, a change which i personally don't like as much. If you measure these, you'll find these are NOT Wizard necks in measurement but share a more smiliar profile/shape than before... glen

[Jimi D]

I have an ad from a Japanese music magazine for the JEM7D BK, and it lists the neck as follows:

Neck: * * * * * *3 pcs. Maple/Bubinga
Neck Type: * *Super Wizard
Fingerboard: Rosewood

It also lists the body wood and bridge and pickup types, etc. The list of "specs" is pretty much the only English on the whole ad page, btw...

I've had the ad dry mounted and it sits over my music table (it's cool :-) *

I know the American catalog specs for the same model still lists the neck as "Jem", but it looks to me like the latest necks are evolving into Wizards.

[jemsite]

that's listed wrong but FYI the super wizard is simply the wizard with the bubinga stripe.... glen

[Jimi D]

Just out of curiosity, on what grounds do you say "it's listed wrong", Glen? I mean, the ad is an IBANEZ ad; they would know what neck they have on their own guitars. The Ibanez Japan web page for the 7DBK also lists the neck as a "Super Wizard", while the 7VWH neck is listed as a "Jem77".*Anyway, the 7DBK neck has a bubinga strip, too; granted, it doesn't particularly feel like what I've come to expect a Wizard to feel like - but that's a pretty subjective thing... but the neck measurements for the RG1280 are identical to those for the 7DBK.

Frankly, I'm inclined to suspect the 7DBK's neck is a refined Wizard neck, and that the Japanese have it listed right, but the American side continues to hold onto the "Jem" profile designation for fear of confusing the marketplace (or associating JEMs too closely with their poorer cousins, the RG) ... now where are my calipers?


(Edited by Jimi D at 9:26 pm on Jan. 30, 2001)

[jem7vwh]

Ah ha! *I love it when I assume and don't make an ass out of u and me *that's what it felt like to me too. *It's too bad because I always liked the feel of my JEM7VWH, it's thin and wide, but not skinny and round like RGs. *That's why as pretty as the 3120's look, I won't be buying one, the necks are a bit too little and rounded. *

[jemsite]

Thing is the japanese measurements are listed differently than the USA ones. Such as if you compare their measurements for the Wizard-II from japan vs USA. You'll have to get the calipers out and measure a few dozen and take an average. IMHO the JEM neck has slimmed down quite a bit from the original one and only true 'jem neck' from the 777s and 77s. That said it's a word game if you want to call the new ones a 'wizard' neck, but IMHO it's inaccurate since there is a different profile in actuality (measurements aside)... glen

[jem7vwh]

In fact, I think I like the Wizard II neck better than just a Wizard. *I use a RG-450 as my backup, and it's about as close to a JEM profile as it gets...what do you guys think?

[jemsite]

BTW - funny this topic comes up 'cause i've revamped teh guitar --> neck *area on jemsite. I haven't listed the addition but it's online now... glen

[Vaibanez]

Submited for your inspection: Jem neck profile

Two things are eveident;
1. Ibanez Japan doesn't have any better a clue than Ibanez USA.

2. BSB's are still available new in Japan...WEEEEEEEE!

J>

[jemsite]

LOL...that is funny. They have 3 neck types listed for the JEM. Super Wizard (DBK), JEM77 (VWH, FP) and JEM (BSB). Ironically they have listed the Super Wizard & Jem measurements as identical. Mistakes o-plenty... glen

[Jimi D]

ARGG! I can't stand it!! How can necks have the same measurements and feel totally different? How can two necks have the same name and be completely different?! How can two necks be apparently the same but have different names!? And how can anyone choose a guitar based on Ibanez specs if their specs are completely kerfluey?!?

new position: my Ibanez Jem7DBK has a neck, and I like it!

...or to paraphrase Frank: Shaddup and play my gueetar :biggrin:

[mike777]

How about leaving it at: playing it just because you like it. *Catalog and website descriptions suck-colors don't come out right and the info provided is subject to human error by the data entry person. *I like the Wizard neck but probably prefer the original neck profile. *One thing that never seems to come up is that the original Jem necks also seemed to have less oil on them-more of a smoother, unfinished feel.

[vaijem777]

I agree with Mike-if you like the way a neck feels, leave it at that! *No need to annalyze it to death. *I think it's quite obvious that the JEM necks have evolved over the years though...as has Vai's playing/music. *My LNG neck is great, and definitely has an "unfinished" feel to it. *The DNA neck is a night and day difference from the LNG, but is excellent in it's own way. *One of the reasons that I've gotten the particluar JEM's that I do is that each one feels and sounds completely different-from the LNG to the VDY to the GMC to the DNA-they're all different. *